1. the second person, thing, event etc is the one that comes after the first: the Second World War the second of August a second year student his second wife Clinton’s second term in office the second half of the year the second time in three days

2. the position in a competition or scale that comes after the one that is the best, most successful etc: She won second prize. They climbed to second place in the League.second largest/most successful etc Africa’s second highest mountainbe second only to something (=used to emphasize that something is nearly the largest, most important etc) The euro will have a circulation second only to that of the dollar.

3. another example of the same thing, or another in addition to the one you have: We advertised for a second guitarist. There was a second reason for his dismissal. I asked the doctor for a second opinion (=when you ask another person to repeat an examination, test etc for you).

4. every second year/person/thing etca) the second, then the fourth, then the sixth year etc: The nurse comes every second day.b) used to emphasize that, in a group of similar things, there is too much of one particular thing: Every second house seemed to be boarded up.

5. be second to none to be the best: The quality of Britain’s overseas aid programme is second to none.

6. second chance help given to someone who has failed, in the hope that they will succeed this time: I just want to give these kids a second chance.

7. have second thoughts to start having doubts about a decision you have made: You’re not having second thoughts, are you?have second thoughts aboutShe’d had second thoughts about the whole project.

8. on second thoughts British English, on second thought American English spoken used to say that you have changed your mind about something: I’ll call her tomorrow – no, on second thought, I’ll try now.

9. not give something a second thought/without a second thought used to say that someone does not think or worry about something: She dismissed the rumour without a second thought.

10. not give something a second glance/look (also without a second glance/look) to not look at something again, because you have not really noticed it or because it does not seem important: No one gave the woman in the grey uniform a second glance.

11. be/become second nature (to somebody) something that is second nature to you is something you have done so often that you do it almost without thinking: Driving becomes second nature after a while.

12. second wind a new feeling of energy after you have been working or exercising very hard, and had thought you were too tired to continue: He got his second wind and ran on.

1. [countable] a unit for measuring time. There are 60 seconds in a minute: Hold your breath for six seconds. The operation takes only 30 seconds. Ultrasonic waves travel at around 300 metres per second.within seconds (=after only a few seconds) Within seconds, Bev called back.

2. [countable] a very short period of time: I’ll be back in a second.Just a second (=wait a moment), I’ll come and help. At least 30 shots were fired in a matter of seconds (=in a very short time). ⇒ split second

3. (at) any second (now) used to say that something will or may happen extremely soon: He should be here any second.

4. seconds [plural]a)informal another serving of food, after you have eaten your first servingb) clothes or other goods that are cheaper than usual because they are not perfect ⇒ second hand1

5. [countable] technical one of the 60 parts into which a minute of an angle is divided. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 78° 52′ 11″ means 78 degrees 52 minutes 11 seconds.

6. [countable] someone who helps someone in a fight, especially in boxing or, in the past, a duel

V. se‧cond5 /sɪˈkɒnd $ -ˈkɑːnd/ verb [transitive usually passive] British English to send someone to do someone else’s job for a short timebe seconded to something Jill’s been seconded to the marketing department while Dave’s away. ⇒ secondment

second nounI. very short moment of time ADJ. brief, fleeting, split I only saw the man for a split second as he ran past. single | heart-stopping For a heart-stopping second he thought he had lost his keys. VERB + SECOND take This will only take a second. have Do you have a second, Miss White? wait Wait a second?this letter's been sent to me by mistake. SECOND + VERB pass, tick by The seconds ticked by. SECOND + NOUN hand PREP. for a ~ For a second I thought you were my mother. in a ~ I'll be with you in a second. in/within ~s Within seconds he had disappeared from view. PHRASES a fraction of a second If he'd reacted a fraction of a second later, he would surely have died. a matter of seconds The end of the match is only a matter of seconds away. ⇒ Note at MEASURE

second II. person/thing that comes next after the first ADJ. close, good | bad, distant, poor | equal, joint | creditable, worthy The young German runner finished a creditable second. VERB + SECOND come, finish PREP. ~ to Sunny Boy came a close second to the winner.